Sunflower Books: Landscapes of THE AZORES: WALKS AND CAR TOURS

Azores, 5th edition (2008); updated 25/02/2010

(To visit the web page for this book on our main site, click here )

Updates for walks and car tours (drives) on the Azores given below supplement those provided in the guidebook. It is vital that this Update is read in conjunction with the text of the book, but note that the Update applies only to the edition stated and not to any earlier editions. (If you have an older edition of this book and want to "upgrade" to the latest edition at half price, click here.)

Information has been forwarded to us by users of the book, and Sunflower Books offers the data in good faith but cannot be held responsible for any misleading or inaccurate content in the Update. Unless indicated otherwise, what appears here has not been verified by the author or publisher, so please allow due caution when new or amended routes are suggested. Each piece of information is dated; bear in mind that some of the older observations may have since been overtaken by events or further changes. If, during your holiday, you are using the current edition of the guide and are able to provide any additional updating to add to this page, we will be pleased to hear from you. Please send information, preferably in hard copy, by post, to Sunflower Books, PO Box 115, Exeter EX2 6YU (or if you prefer, by e-mail, to mail@sunflowerbooks.co.uk).

Walk 1: p51, 2nd paragraph: The concrete surface gives way to tarmac almost immediately, when the road ... The old stone shelter for coaches at the 2h45min-point is dilapidated and hardly to recognize as such. (Author, 9/08)

Walk 4: This is an excellent walk - highly recommended. There is a road being constructed which cuts across the ascent and will eventually cut across the descent. The best option currently (Feb2010) is to ascend the road just to the east of the Bahia Palace, which is clealy marked to Lagoa do Fogo and reach the ascent point from this road i.e. where the text says 'go direct ahead when the tarmacced road turns sharply left', this will then become a left hand turn when the road bends sharply right. It is fairly clear from the map in the book. (User, 2/10)

Walk 22: In May 2009 I found (a) no access to Furna de Frei Mathias lava tunnel; I walked up the few concrete steps and found a barbed wire fence and then traversed the length of the tunnel on a track that was quite eroded (by cattle, I think) but no joy; b) amazed to find Quinta das Rosas entrance gate padlocked! (User, 6/09) The author replies: the access to Furna de Frei Matias is just to the right of the concrete steps; he probably missed it (the barbed wire fence is straight ahead). My walking groups quite like the track although it is a bit stony and eroded in places. Unfortunately, the Quinta das Rosas entrance gate now seems to be padlocked permanently but one can walk through the side entrance past the house to the left.

Walk 23: A line is missing from the special note on page 112; it should read: ... 'whereas the 'Furna' is reached some 900m/yds after the starting point of this climb. ' (Sunflower)